all. She was pretty far gone. Why, we had to put her out--carry
her out to the car that she had come in with her friend. You know
we can't stand for any rough stuff like that--no sir. This house
is perfectly respectable and proper and our patrons understand
it."

The story, or rather, the version of it, seemed to interest
Garrick, as I knew it would.

"Who was the girl?" he asked casually. "Did you know her? Was she
one of your regular patrons?"

"Knew her only by sight," returned Miss Lottie hastily, now a
little vexed, I imagined, at Guy's persistence, "like lots of
people who are introduced here--and come again several times."

The woman was evidently sorry that she had mentioned the incident,
and was trying to turn the conversation to the advantages of her
establishment, not the least of which were her facilities for
private games in little rooms in various parts of the house. It
seemed all very risque to me, although I tried to appear to think
it quite the usual thing, though I was careful to say that hers
was the finest of such places I had ever seen. Still, the memory
of Garrick's questioning seemed to linger. She had not expected, I
knew, that we would take any further interest in her story than to
accept it as proof of how careful she was of her clientele.

Garrick was quick to take the cue. He did not arouse any further
suspicion by pursuing the subject. Apparently he was convinced
that it had been Rena Taylor of whom Miss Lottie spoke. What